In 1961, President John F. Kennedy established the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports to promote physical fitness and sport participation among Americans (Woods, 2007, p.273). Did you participate in the President's Challenge Physical Fitness Test in your high school physical education class? For more information click here. What do you think of a test for physical fitness in public schools? What alternative methods could be used to promote physical fitness in our society? Sport advocates promote that sports are better off by having minimal interference from the U.S. government (Wood, 2007). What role should the U.S. government play in promoting physical fitness?
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Sport and Politics
In 1961, President John F. Kennedy established the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports to promote physical fitness and sport participation among Americans (Woods, 2007, p.273). Did you participate in the President's Challenge Physical Fitness Test in your high school physical education class? For more information click here. What do you think of a test for physical fitness in public schools? What alternative methods could be used to promote physical fitness in our society? Sport advocates promote that sports are better off by having minimal interference from the U.S. government (Wood, 2007). What role should the U.S. government play in promoting physical fitness?
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I do not know if it was exactly the President's Challenge Physical Fitness Test, but in junior high, my 8th grade year we had a physical fitness test at the end of the year. For high school I never had a physical fitness test in Physical Education. I don't think that physical fitness tests are necessary, but having P.E. classes and other health based classes are important to the growth of a young individual in the education system. From my experience having a nutrition class in High School was very beneficial in educating me about the proper ways to exercise and what to eat or not to eat. Educating America on proper nutrition and the proper way to exercise is what I think would be a positive alternative to promoting physical fitness in society. The U.S. government should have some involvement in physical fitness just in the sense of promoting it as a part to a healthy lifestyle. I don't think that the government needs to set tests or requirements for anything, but having the government educating Americans on the advantages of physical fitness is something that it can get involved in.
ReplyDeleteIn middle school, the only thing I can really remember having was this timed pullup contest sort of thing. You would pull your self above the pullup bar and see how long you could hold yourself above it. I believe we had the timed mile as well. I think that physical fitness tests are great for public school because it helps kids to stay in shape. Obesity rates have soared over the years and overweight children are becoming a problem. There needs to be a strong push by the government to keep kids in shape. I think that having mandatory phtsical education classes is a start, but more needs to be done to keep kids healthy throughout their child hood. If having the government intervene is what it takes, then that is perfectly fine with me.
ReplyDeleteIn high school, I do not recall taking the President's Challenge Physical Fitness Test in my PE classes, yet ever hearing about it. Although, all of my PE classes whether it be a strength training/conditioning or team sports class, we did have physical fitness tests at the beginning of the semester and at the very end of the semester to evaluate if we progressed in our fitness throughout that time frame. I liked the physical fitness tests and think they are beneficial to not only promote exercise and staying active but to also allow you to evaluate and try to motivate yourself to become healthy and and more fit. I know that I always formed goals of performing better in the physical fitness tests at the end of the semester, just so I know I improved in something. I agree with D-Hom and think that offering Health and Nutrition classes would be a positive alternate way to encourage a healthy lifestyle in our society. The government should just continue to promote and emphasize the importance of styaing active and living healthy because obesity has become such an epidimec in America that people just need to become aware of what they are risking if they don't live healthy.
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ReplyDeleteI love that the government is trying to help with the obese problem in the U.S. of obesity. People in the U.S. are too fat. The government needs to assist young Americans in schools become healthy and stay physically fit. They need to give money to schools so they can afford to keep their physical education programs. Another thing they can do is set a “national fit” statistic. If a person reaches that statistic, they can get monetary rewards, like a right off on their taxes or something. Money encourages people. If fat people don’t get the money that fit people receive, then they will be encouraged to stop eating in a day what people from a small African country eat in a month. Also, they might be encouraged to visit that place called the “gym” or at least get off the couch where football is watched and go to the park and actually play the game. On a side note with sports and politics, I think it was extremely cool that our current president decided to fill out an NCAA bracket on national television. I feel a lot better that my president likes sports almost as much as I do. Props to Barack!
ReplyDeleteI don’t recall participating in the President’s Challenge during high school, but I remember it was required during junior high. For once, it made my physical education class seem like a tough competition. There were measurements or marks that would distinguish varying achievement levels in the President’s Challenge. People were grouped either as an athlete or non-athlete based on your results. It doesn’t seem like a great way to promote physical fitness. Some people have more physical skills than others putting them at a disadvantage. Yet, today I noticed that the President’s Challenge focuses on becoming physically active. It does have a point system based on the time spent, which segregates people into groups. But the focus of the President’s Challenge has improved over the years. It encourages people to be heart healthy by becoming physically active rather than athletic. The program also aims to influence all age groups including children, teens, and adults. It is a better method to promote physical fitness in our society. Yet, it is a hard task to do considering our culture. There is more enjoyment in being a sport spectator rather than a sport participant. In order to promote physical fitness and sport in our society, people need to see what physical activities meet their skill level. As long as people know that they can be physically active in specific situations, then they will be motivated to engage in more physical activities. The US government is doing their job by promoting physical fitness. In addition, US companies should do their best to promote physical fitness.
ReplyDeleteI participated in elementary, middle, and high school in the President Physical Fitness Test. I thought that it was a wonderful idea to try and get kids active in schools, but there is a downfall. I would consider mtself one of the most athletic girls at all the schools i was at, but I still never recieved this award do to the fact that I could not "stretch and reach." I had abnormally long legs, which prevented me from acheiving this award. Not like I really care, but it was kind of disappointing. This award is a good way to try and make kids be more physicall active, but I beleive that more needs to be done in a home setting. Kids need to be pushed more to go outside and run, rather then sit inside and play video games. parents need to be buying bikes rather then gaming systems. Yes, advancese in technology is wonderful, but it is preventing kids from being active. It parents and teachers start promoting physical activity and eating healthy a lot more, it would be rather helpful in making America's kids more physically fit.
ReplyDeleteI don't recall participating in any specific fitness test. I'm not really a believer in fitness tests because I think they bring unnecessary judgment upon kids who may not emotionally be prepared for that. Instead, I believe physical education should be promoted through encouragement and active participation. Everyone has different things they like to do, especially at a young age, and I believe they should be encouraged to follow their interests rather than be forced to take a test and be judged in front of their peers. I guess it would be beneficial for the US Government to encourage physical activity and involvement, however I don't really believe that they should take an active role in forcing kids to participate.
ReplyDeleteFirst I want to make it clear that I did pass the President's physicla fitness test with flying colors!! Second, I think the best way for the U.S. Government to increase physical fitness would be to jack up gas taxes even higher, thus forcing the majority of the populus to walk and bike more...joking. Actually, I am an advocate of physical education in public schools. I think in addition to the government endorsing such programs, companies within the business world should promote physical education in high schools, becuase if teens build good habits in high school they are more likely to continue to value fitness and health later in life, and a physically healthy employee is much more effective and happy.
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ReplyDeleteThe President's Challenge Physical Fitness Test was part of my gym classes in school. I think it was beneficial as it helped to motivate young adults to learn how to be physically fit. Physical fitness is an important part of health and quality of life, both of which are concerns that are usually addressed by the government. Some people may be concerned that a fitness program could make some children uncomfortable, but it is up to them to do their best, just as it would be for a student that struggles to read or learn math. The government could also promote physical fitness in other ways such as subsidizing athletic facilities or youth sports leagues. It is clear that more needs to be done as obesity rates and health problems in the United States continue to climb. Last year I was able to work with junior high students and I observed that the students in gym class showed very interest in participating. I felt that this was largely in part due to the lack of organization that the teachers expected. Therefore, guidelines such as a physical fitness program would benefit the students and the teachers.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of the government promoting physical fitness. I believe it is the best thing for the youth of the country and everyone because of the higher rate of obesity and other health concerns that are linked and cause by obesity. We were tested by the presidential challenge for physical fitness in school, and I believe almost no one had a problem with it, (except people who could not run a mile, which to me is ridiculous in itself.) I have never had a problem with any fitness areas and believe that this is a big issue that has arisen in our country. I love how Shaq, when with the Miami Heat, took time to help young children with fitness in the Miami area. There should be a greater influence in schools today, especially with some schools totally cutting out physical fitness classes all together, to help the youth with these issues before they become even more of an issue later in life. In schools like middle and high school, even elementary, the government having a say is a good thing, but if you go to college and pro the less government interference the better I believe. But JFK had it right when he implemented this program.
ReplyDeleteI actually did not participate in the President's Challenge Physical Fitness Test in any physical education classes because I was not attended the school in the U.S. But my country has similar physical education class to make students become healthy and stay physically fit. In Korea, there is no P.E. class in high school because they have to study more instead of running. It is not good for kids around 16~18 ages. To study well, they need to make their body healthy and physically stong. for this reason, having just P.E. class is enviable for me.
ReplyDeleteI think it's important to have physical fitness in grade school and high school, but to judge public schools based on fitness is really critical. It's really important to have a physical education class and then children decide if they want to play in sports outside of school. In regards to sports, the government should make minimal attempts to interfere.
ReplyDeleteAt my high school you had to have 2 years of P.E. class or participate in sports for at least 2 years. I never had P.E. class because I played sports, but the overall consensus of P.E. was fairly negative. I strongly support the effort to keep kids engaged in physical activity, but forcing them to do so is the wrong approach. Perhaps the government could generate programs that actively promote physical activity and reward the participants. Things like future scholarships for college or scholar-athlete recognition programs. Lets just face it, there are lazy people out there who will never commit to physical activity, but allotting financial and recognition rewards will motivate those who choose to be involved. A healthier society is a better one, but it should not be forced upon those who wish to be unmotivated and lazy.
ReplyDeleteI was involved in the Presidents test in junior high, even though i never did very well. I think while it seems like a good idea, its not completely necessary. The government I think should not really get involved in health and fitness related exercise, they are not going to force anybody to do anything, so why even bother. I dont think there should be alternative opportunites, people just need to motivate themselves, which makes exercising that much better, the government can make suggestions, but ultimately it is up to the individual to make that choice
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